AS fireworks cracked to welcome in the New Year staff at Sharoe Green Hospital, in Preston, popped champagne corks to celebrate the new arrival of more than a dozen bundles of joy.

The Watling Street Road hospital's maternity unit was buzzing in the early hours of Monday morning as expectant mums gave birth to their new babies.

Preston mum Christine Watson, of Chatburn Road, Ribbleton, was over the moon after giving birth to a bouncing baby girl at 2.30am.

The little cutie is Christine's fourth daughter and weighed it at 6lbs 2ozs on New Years Day.

Another new earlyarrival was

Later that morning Ellen Pomeroy, of Brown Lane, Bamber Bridge, welcomed her new son Ben into the world after giving birth at 5.45am weighing a healthy 7lbs 11ozs.

And, as many people nursed a hangover from New Year's Eve parties, expectant mum Lynsay Wright, of Springfiled Road, Leyland, gave birth to her son Wesley at 9.28am weighing 7lbs 9ozs.

Shortly afterwards Shahenaz Gargadiya, of St Michael's Road, Deepdale, was delighted after giving birth to a baby boy at 10.15am weighing 6lbs 8ozs.